Tonight, in one giant leap backward for Camdenkind, David Rainer was elected to a third term as chair of the Camden County Commission.

Let me first credit Steve Berry for referring to it as a giant "step" backward. I'm pretty sure Neil Armstrong said a "giant 'leap'." I watched it live from Dong Ha Combat Base, RVN. The very first order of business after swearing in the victors from last November's election was to elect the new chair. The county attorney, Brent Green, wields the gavel until that is done, then turns it over to the newly elected chair. Just as soon as Green opened the floor for nominations, Chuckie Sears (who, apparently, had rushed straight to the meeting after escaping entrapment in a walk-in freezer at her new job or giving a performance with a visiting kabuki troupe) immediately nominated David Rainer. Steve Berry then noted that Rainer had been the chairman twice before with less than stellar results. Saying that he thought it was time for new blood, he put Commisioner Zell's name into nomination. He said that his only hope was that the newly seated Commissioner Keene (proclaimed by TOPIX crazies to be a Steve Berry recruit and puppet) would give him the third vote needed. NOT SO, marionette breath! When the vote was called, Keene voted with Rainer and Chuckie and the deal was done. Immediately thereafter, Green handed the gavel to Rainer who then moved to the midlle seats. The first words out of his mouth as the newly elected chair were, and I quote, "Thank you, Mr. Berry, for those kind words." Berry responded "Well, we've been here before." Rainer, even more snottily: "That doesn't even deserve dignifying with a response." So, we're off and running down a very familiar dirt road. Still think Keene is a Berry puppet? Okay. There was a reading of a new alcohol ordinance. The major change is a 25% increase in fees to package store and bar owners. Berry pointed out that the county still would have the lowest fees of many counties around. He pointed out that Kingsland charges the max allowable fees (per state law) of $2,000 for both package stores and bars. Camden charges $1,000 for one (bars, I think) and only $500 for the other. Apparently, Berry had had staff research the cost of CCSO repsonse to the 20 or so licensees in the past year. If memory serves me, it was $13,000 vs. only $11,000 in total liquor license fee revenues. Berry made a motion to table it and come back later after considering raising fess to match Kingsland's fees. Supposed puppet Keene spoke against Berry's idea, siding with the patron St. of Camdenian Good Ol' Boys, Saint David. So, in the end, Berry was the only no vote. The mere 25% increase is what we'll get. Oh, and Berry "puppet" Zell, she also sided with Rainer all night long. The love fest going on between sessions (swearing-in, first reading, public hearing, etc.) was really a sight to behold. Chuckie, the undisputed master of old-goat teasers, having obviously thrown away old Worthless Willie, was snuggling up (literally) cheek by jowl with newly elected chair Rainer. There is no doubt that we have a dastardly duo in Chuckie and Rainer. It's too early to tell if the new Terrible Troika will turn out to be Rainer, Chuckie, and Keene. We should know fairly shortly. Zell is a wild card, but she'll soon fall one way or another. Berry may well turn out to be the Lone Ranger until the next election. The new, "old" courthouse renovations are nice. The new commission chamber is a quantum leap forward. It actually has a good sound system. You can even hear the county manager - that's how good it is! One suggestion; The exterior lighting sucks. I parked in the back of the building. The street light across the street was quite inadequate. The parking area is dangerously dark. Solution: attach lights to the exterior of the building. P.S., I also learned from someone at the meeting that Dave Smith is also now legally blind. Apparently, his diabetes got out of control.